Migrant Lives in a Nepali Brick Factory

The Kadambini Brick Industry Limited, one of hundreds of brick factories in the Kathmandu Valley, is a microcosm of migration. Seasonal workers come from impoverished villages in northern India and the war-ravaged hills of northwest Nepal. Safety measures are non-existent and wages are low. Children make up half the work force and are often exposed to both sexual and physical exploitation. At the end of a long day of hard labor, even the 10 year olds unwind with a glass of local whisky...more »

The Kadambini Brick Industry Limited, one of hundreds of brick factories in the Kathmandu Valley, is a microcosm of migration. Seasonal workers come from impoverished villages in northern India and the war-ravaged hills of northwest Nepal. Safety measures are non-existent and wages are low. Children make up half the work force and are often exposed to both sexual and physical exploitation. At the end of a long day of hard labor, even the 10 year olds unwind with a glass of local whisky bought from the company store. Despite all this, brick factories are a major employer in a poor region. The hard-earned cash sent home to rural villages in India and Nepal help feed families left behind.« less